Arch support



Sept. 30, um.

A. O. COBBS ET AL ARCH SUPPORT Filed April 12. 1923 "ialgz 'i w l I'IweW/DV a. 0. 6

Patented Sept. 30, 1.924.

tarant- ANSALEM ORVILLE COBBS AND LEO VEARL COBBS, 015 SPENCER, IOWA.

ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed April 12, 1923. Serial No. 631,585.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ANsALnM ORVILLE Cones and Lao Vn-ARL Cones, citizens of the United States, residing at Spencer, in the county of Clay and State of Iowa, have in vented a certain new and useful Arch Support, of which the following is a spec1fication.

The object of our invention is to provide 1 an archsupport of simple, durable and coin paratively inexpensive construction, whereby it can be marketed at a comparatively low cost.

More particularly, our invention relates to an arch support in which the insole portion is provided with a forwardly and lat-- erally extending part or projection, which is designed to extend under the fourth and fifth metatarsal joints of the foot, wherein the foot will be properly balanced, at the same time it will prevent the foot from overlapping or spreading out over the ordinary sole of the shoe.

In this connection it may be mentioned .5 that the weight upon a foot is practically supported at three different points. The

heel of the foot serves as one point for sup porting the weight of the body. The ball of the great toe of the foot, under-the head of so the first metatarsal joint serves as the second bearing point. The third bearing point in an ordinary foot is under the heads of the fourth and fifth metatarsal joints of the foot. The weakest bearing point is the last mentioned, that is, the fourth and fifth metatarsal joints, and it is our object to overcome the spreading out of the foot incorrectly and at the same time to properly balance the weight upon the three supporting points of the foot.

Still a further object is to provide an arch support which is provided with an extended portion, which is positioned below one of the bearing points of the foot for elevating it, wherein it will properly function with the remaining two bearing points of the foot.

Still a further object is to provide a structure wherein the arch supporting part will be completely enclosed between two leather parts for preventing it from coming in contact with the shoe and injuring it.

With these and other objects in View, our invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of the various parts of our advice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in our claims,

tive to the support.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the underside of our arch support.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the heel and sole of a shoe with our support shown thereon; and

Figure A} is an end view of the front of the support, showing it in slightly tilted position.

In the accompanying drawings, we have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally the sole of a shoe and 11 to indicate the heel thereof. The arch support consists of an insole portion 12, which is provided witha curved or raised part, as at 13, which is designed to be positioned below the arch of the foot on the inner side.

The raised portion13 is curved from end to end, shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, for more properly fitting the foot. The insole portion 12 is provided with a forwardly and laterally extending portion 14.

The portion 14.- is positioned on the outer front corner of the insole 12. The portion 14 is designed to be received below the fourth and fifth metatarsal joints of the foot, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings. The fourth and fifth metatarsal joints are referred to by the reference numeral 15.

In this connection, it may be mentioned that the foot is supported on three different bearing points, which are shown in heavy dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings.

One bearing point referred to by the letter A is the heel of the foot. A. second bearing point B is the ball of the great toe of the foot under the head of the first metatarsal joint. The third bearing point C is under the heads of the fourth and fifth metatarsal joints of the foot.

In a great many cases a weak or abnormal foot spreads out and the fourth and fifth metatarsal joints will flatten out, causing the foot to spread out over the edge of the shoe sole and at the same time throw the foot out of proper balance.

The portion 1 1 .of the insole 12 is designed to extend below the bearing point C for elevating it and thus throwing the foot inwardly rather than outwardly.

It will be noted that the bearing points C and A come within the outline of the insole 12. A spring plate 16 is secured to the underside of the insole 12 by means of the rivets 17. The spring plate 16 is positioned below the curved or raised portion 13' of the insole 12 and serves to support the edge of the foot.

A leather piece 18 extends over the spring plate 16 and is secured to the insole 12 by means of the rivets 17. The edges of the leather piece 18 are beveled, as at 19. The forward edge of the insole 12 on its underside is beveled, as at 20, so as not to form any shoulders or raised portions within the shoe upon which the foot rests.

The leather piece 18 is made thicker in the center at the forepart; the purpose of which is to raise that part just behind the second and third metatarsal joints. This supports the transverse arch of the foot. The leather piece 18 prevents the spring or steel plate 16 from coming in contact with the shoe and gouging or injuring it in any way.

It will be seen that we have provided a very effieient structure wherein the bearing points of the foot are so positioned and supported relative to the arch support that the tendency will be to elevate the outer bearing point (referred to by C) for eliminating the spreading of the foot out over the edge of the sole.

The'steel plate of the arch support serves to support the inner longitudinal arch and helps to properly balance the weight of the body upon the three bearing points.

Some changes mayv be made iii-the con struction and arrangement of the various parts of our invention, without departing from the real spirit'and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

lVe claim as our invention:

1. An arch support comprising an insole portion having one part projected forwardly and adapted to extend under the fourth and fifth metatarsal joints of the foot for elevating the same, the first, second and third metatarsal joints of the foot being free of said arch support, a spring plate secured to the underside of the insole portion for raising the arch of the foot and a cover for said spring plate as and for the purposes stated. J

2. An arch support comprising an insole portion having an extension formed on one corner thereof which projects forwardly and laterally from the main body portion for supporting the fourth and fifth metatarsal joints of the foot for throwing the foot'in wardly and properly balancing it, the first, second and third metatarsal joints of the foot beingfree of said arch support,a spring plate secured to the underside of the insole portion for raising the arch of the foot and a leather sheet below the spring plate as and for the purposes stated.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 2, 1923.

ANSALEMQORVILLE cones. LEO VEARL ooBBs. 

